Stapling machine



Dec. 17, 1940. F. c, HOUWEN 2,225,054

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1939 4o INVENTOR 44 :I'rederic/eGll/ouwen Patented Dec. 17, 1940 Frederick 0. Houwen, Morris Plains, N. J assigncr to The Bates Manufacturing Company, West Orange, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application September 13, 1939, Serial No. 294,597

1'7 Claims.

My invention relates to stapling machines and more particularly to that type of stapling machine which is designed to fasten together superposed sheets or layers of paper or other material by staples cut and formed from a long piece or strand of staple stock, such as wire, which in repeated operations of the machine, is automatically fed from a suitable source, such as a spool or reel, in successive and substantially uniform lengths to the proper position for the production of the staples therefrom.

In some aspects my invention is an improvement over that disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,934,104 granted November '7, 1933, on an application of Victor A. Sve-nsson; andwhile adapted for embodiment in machines of various types and constructions, for illustrative purposes my invention will be specifically disclosed herein as applied to a stapling machine which is generally similar to that shown and described in said patent. i

A machine of the character referred to is provided with a rotatable spool or reel of wire from which the staples are produced, and in each operation of the machine a length of wire sufiicient for the production of a single staple is withdrawn or unwound from the spool by a reciprocable feeding device designed to grip the wire only during movement thereof in one direction. 'The spool is usually a part of a'remo'vable self-contained unit or mounting which is adapted. to be quickly and easily applied to the machine and to be readily replaced, when necessary; by a similar unit with a full spool. For the attainment of the objects set forth in the above-mentioned Patent No, 1,934,104, the design of said unit and the arrangement for supporting the same are such that when the unitis -properly and operatively positioned in the machine, the spool in addition to being rotatable about its own: axis, is also yie-ldingly mounted for bodily 'tr'anslatory movement under and in the general direction of the force exerted by the feedingdevice in withdrawing wire from the spool and advancing it in the machine; To ensure the most efiective operation of the machine, and particularly proper and uniform withdrawal of the-Wire from the spool, it is desirable to'provide means, preferably resilient, for opposing said bodily movement of the spool under the action of the wire feeding or withdrawing means and also meansfor constantly exerting a braking action opposing rotarymovement of the spool about its own axis.

'Users of machines of this character who are unfamiliar with'the details of their construction and operation or who are unaware of the purposes and functioning of properly designed spool units therefor when mounted therein, sometimes incorrectly position the spool units (backwards,

for example) in applying them to the machines and: also occasionaly undertake to use spools or spool units not adapted to the machines. If the spool unit is incorrectly positioned in such a machine, the pull exerted on the wire to effect withdrawal thereof from the spool in the operation of the machine would cause the wire to bind or snarl; and continued actuation of the machine under these conditions, would be likely to result in the breaking of the wire and to render the machine unusable. When a spool or spool unit not designed or adapted for such a machine is employed, the wire clutches of the machine will sometimes be subjected to excessive or toomuch strain and/or wear in the operation of withdrawing the wire from the spool with consequent damage to the clutches, or breakage of the wire between the clutches, or other deleteriousefiectsfor example, at least one of the conditions just described will exist or prevail in each of the following cases: where the spool for the wire is somewhat too wide so that flanges thereof will bear or bind on walls orsides of the frame of the machine, and where it is attempted to operate the machine inconjunction with an extra large or heavy spool of wire mounted to the rear of the machine.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved machine of the character described which can be operated only when the carrier for the wire or staple stock is mounted in correct position in the machine. I 7

Another object of the invention is to prevent such a machine from being operated unless a wire mounting or carrier of suitable or proper design. is mounted therein.

Another object is to provide a construction whereby such a machine is operatively and inoperatively conditioned respectively by or incidentally to the mounting therein of the wire carrying device or spool unit and the removal there- 'of from the machine.

A further object is to provide such a machine which is biased to an inoperable condition and which is rendered operable by or as an incident to the mounting therein of the wire carrying device or spool unit.

Still another object of my invention is to provide such a machine-with a removable wire carrying device or spool unit having means which is adapted. to efieot the changing of the machine from an inoperable to an operable condition upon the mounting of such device in the machine and which is also adapted to coact with a part of the machine to perform an additional function.

A feature of my invention consists in providing a stapling machine of the character above described with an adjustable device which is biased to an operative condition or position wherein it prevents actuation of the machine and with a removable spool unit having means for effecting the adjustment of said device to inoperative condition or position when such unit is applied to the machine. Another feature of a preferred form of my invention consists in the utilization for the adjustable device just referred to, of a movable mounted locking device and in the provision of the spool unit with a resilient member adapted to coactwith such locking device to effect the movement thereof to inoperative position.

Various other objects, features and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description and the appended claims.

For a clearer understanding of my invention, attention is directed to the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of a stapling machine embodying a preferred form of my invention, the parts being shown in the normal positions they occupy at the end of a complete operation of the machine when the latter has a reel of wire or staple stock properly mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental part-sectional view similar to Fig. 1 except that the machine is shown with the reel of wire and its supporting means removed and with the locking device in operative position; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the locking device.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the fastening or stapling machine shown comprises a rectangular flanged base I having a pair of spaced lugs 2 struck up therefrom adjacent its rear end and an anvil 3 suitably secured thereto adjacent its forward end. Reference character A designates a support or frame for carrying the reel or spool of wire, the wire feeding means, the staple forming and driving means and various associated parts, which frame consists of a casing comprising two spaced parallel plates 5 connected at their forward ends by an integral transverse web I. At their rear ends plates 5 have similar projections 8 which extend down through the openings formed in base I by striking up the lugs 2 therefrom, and a pin 9 mounted in said lugs and extending loosely through openings provided in the projections 8, serves to support frame A on the base I for pivotal movement. At their lower ends the projections 8 are provided with angular forwardly extending arms 8', and two tensioned coil springs ID are respectively connected at their ends to said arms and to two lugs ll struck down from the base. Springs I!) bias the frame A about pin 9 to the raised or uppermost position thereof, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, upward movement of said frame being limited by the engagement of arms 8 with base I. The plates 5 are maintained in proper spaced relation by the web 1, web portions [2 and I3, pins or screws 9, I4 and I5 and a fiat spacing member l6, said spacing member having reduced end portions which closely engage openings provided in said plates.

The plates 5 have similar rearwardly extending and somewhat outwardly offset portions I! from and between which a spool of wire S is supported. Spacing member l6 has a rearwardly extending and upwardly curved portion l6 which acts to guide the wire W as it is withdrawn from spool S for advancement in the machine to proper position for the production of staples therefrom. The means for withdrawing wire from spool S and advancing the same in the machine comprises a slide I8 which is mounted in the lower portion of frame A for horizontal reciprocatory movement. One-way wire clutches C, C of similar construction (shown in Fig. 3) are respectively secured to spacing member l6 and to the rear end of slide l8. When the machine is in operative condition, as shown in Fig. 1, the wire W extends from spool S through both of the clutches C, C and also through a guide 20 which is carried by slide l8 and from the forward end of which the wire is directed transversely of the front end portion of frame A in position for the production of a staple therefrom and for the driving of such staple upon the actuation of the machine. Each of the clutches C, C' is of such construction that it will permit free relative advancing movement of the wire therethrough but will prevent rearward or retrograde movement of the wire therethrough. Accordingly when slide I8 is moved rearwardly from the position shown in Figure 1, clutch C holds the wire against rearward movement towards the spool while clutch C and guide 20 move freely along the wire, with the result that the distance which the wire projects from the forward end of the guide is increased by the amount of such rearward movement; and when slide I8 is thereafter moved forwardly and returned to said position clutch C grips the wire so that it is moved forwardly with the slide and an amount thereof substantially corresponding to such forward movement is withdrawn from spool S, the wire then passing freely through clutch C.

The mechanism for cutting the wire and for forming and driving the staples produced from the wire in the operation of the machine comprises a plunger device (not shown), mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement within the forward end portion of frame A. This plunger de- Vice has a suitable connection, such as a bell crank connection (not shown), with slide [8 whereby the latter is moved rearwardly and forwardly respectively by the downward and upward movements of said device in the frame A.

The means for actuating the machine comprises a long deeply channeled lever 25 which is pivoted adjacent its rear end, as' by the pin or screw M, to the rearward portion of frame A. The lever 25 extends forwardly of and beyond frame A and is provided at its front end with a handle 26. At a small distance rearwardly of its handle the lever 25 has apivot'ed link connection (not shown) with the above-mentioned plunger device mounted in frame A A coiled compression spring 21 of greater strength than the spring H1 combined, is disposed between lever 25 and frame A and constantly tends to maintain said lever and the aforesaid plunger device in their raised or uppermost position.

The spool of wire S is part of a self-contained mounting or unit of substantially the same construction as the unitary spool-supporting structure or device shown in the above-mentioned patent No. 1,934,104. In addition to the spool,

this unit comprises a U-s'haped bracket B on and between the legs of which the spool is permanently mounted for rotation about its axisby a shaft 38, a spring or brake 3| for resisting rotary move- 5 ment of the spool, and a resilient member or spring 32 adapted to oppose bodily movement of the spool in response to the pull exerted on the wire by the wire-withdrawing and advancing means. The spool S consists of a hub 33 on which the wire is wound and which is secured to shaft 38, and two similar annular flanges or discs 34 respectively secured to the ends of said hub. The legs of bracket B, at points adjacent the base of the latter, have similar struck out right angular 1'5 lugs 35 which are adapted to be disposed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in substantially L-shaped slots 36 provided in the spaced portions [1 of frame A to thereby removably support the bracket I and the parts it carries from and between said spaced portions for bodily swinging movement about an axis fairly remote from the axis of spool S. 'The springs 3| and 32 may be formed as a single member and secured, as by riveting.

, to the base of bracket B. Adjacent its free end the spring 3| is provided on its inner surface with a yielding facing 31 which is adapted, so long as there is any wire wound on spool S, to be pressed by said spring against the outer convolutions of the wire. Accordingly during operation of the machine, the spring 3| will-always act to exert a braking action on the spool opposing its rotation. When the unitary device comprising bracket B and spool S is properly mounted in the machine as shown in Fig. 1, spring 32' will coact 35 with a part of the machine to biasthe spool to a position somewhat to the left or rearwardly of the position (vertically below the pivot lugs 35) it tends to assume under the action of gravity and to oppose forward swinging movement of 40 the bracket and spool about said lugs under the pull exerted by the feeding means on the wire in withdrawing the same from the spool and advancing it in the machine.

The structure so far described is of substantially the same construction and, when properly assembled and in operable condition as shown in Fig. 1, will function in substantially the same manner as the machine disclosed in the aforesaid Svensso-n Patent No. 1,934,104, reference being made to such patent for a more detailed description.

The means for accomplishing the objects of my invention may be embodied in various structural forms. The specific embodiment of said means disclosed herein comprises as some of the parts thereof, the above described spool mounting or unit and a movably mounted device L with which the spring 32 of said unit is preferably adapted to coact and the position of which is controllable by said unit preferably, although not necessarily, through spring 32. The device L, as shown, consists of a member which may conveniently be made of a, single piece of heavy sheet metal stamped and bent to form. This 5 member is generally triangular in shape and comprises two similar parallel side walls or portions 38, spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the side walls or plates 5 of frame A, a short flat web portion 39 integral with said side portions 70 38 and connecting the same at points corresponding to the apex of said member, and two pairs of similar right angular flanges 40 and 4| provided at the base of said member. Thetwo pairs of flanges '40 and M, which render member '7 L of sufficient and proper weight and also serve to maintain the base portions of theside walls 38 properly spaced, are spaced apart in the direction of their length. The flanges of each of these pairs, terminate at their inner edges closely adjacent each other and substantially midway be- 5 tween the side walls 38. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4., member L is disposed between the walls 5 of frame A and the side walls or flanges of lever 25 andthis member is mounted for pivotal and also for bodily reciprocal movement with respect to 10 frame A by a pin and slot connection comprising the pin or screw l4 and short aligned slots 42 which are provided in the side walls 38 of said member and through which the pin l4 loosely I extends. The side walls 38 of member L are provided at their upper ends with similar extensions or nose portions 43 which project and engage loosely between the bottom of the channeled lever 25 and a pin !5' mounted in the flanges of said lever. At their lower ends the i20 walls 38 of member L are formed with similar tongues 44which when said member is in its lowermost operative position, shown in Fig. 4, project downwardly in front of the forward end of spacing member 5. When the movable or adjustable member L is in said operative position, to which it is biased by the combined weight of its component and (in the illustrated form there of) integral parts, it is obvious that lever 25 will I thereby be held against downward movement with respect to frame A and that consequently the machine will then be inoperably conditioned and positively locked against operation. The member L is so constructed and is so arranged in relation to its associated parts that upon correctly mounting the spool unit in. the machine, the spring 32 of said unit will engage beneath the lower rear edge of the web 39 of said member and move the latter (by reason of the weight of the spool unit and its tendency to assume a posi- 40 tion in which its center of gravity is vertically below the pivot lugs 35) upwardly and also slightly rearwardly about pin I4 to the inoperative position thereof shown in Fig. 1. In this inoperative position of member L the tongues 44 are 45 above spacing member l6 so that they will clear the latter as said member is swung about the pin I4 in response to the actuation of lever 25. The machine will now, of course be in operable condition. Intermediatr the flanges 40 and 4|, the 50 side walls 38 of member L are cut back or recessed as indicated at 45, so that said member in the combined bodily and pivotal movements thereof will clear the rear end of the web portion I3 of 7 frame A. 55

From the foregoing it is apparent that the machine is respectively operably and inoperably conditioned in response to and as incidents to the operations of correctly mounting a properly designed spool unit in the machine and the re- 60 moval of the spool unit from the machine. It will also be obvious that when the spool unit is mounted in correct position, the spring 32 will coact with the web 39 of member L to bias the spool Sto a position somewhat rearwardly of that which it tends to assume under the action of gravity and to oppose forward bodily movement of the spool under the pull exerted on the wire in withdrawing the same from the spool as the machine is operated.

What I claim is:

1. A stapling machine comprising a support,

a reel for carrying wire removably mounted on said support for rotary movement about its axis and for bodily translatory movement with respect -7 to said support, an operable part, locking means for said part, and means associated with said reel and through the agency of which said locking means is rendered inefiective as an incident to the mounting of said reel on said support.

2. A stapling machine comprising a support, a reel for carrying wire staple stock removably mounted on said support for rotary movement about its own axis and for swinging movement about another axis, an operable part, locking means for said part adjustable to and from operative condition, and means associated with said reel and through the agency of which said locking means is adjusted from operative condition as an incident to the mounting of said reel on said support.

3. In a stapling machine having a removably mounted device for carrying wire staple stock and an operable part: a movable device for preventing operation of said part, said movable device being gravity biased to operative position; and means associated with said wire-carrying device and through the agency of which said movable device is moved to inoperative position as an incident to the mounting of said wire-carrying device in the machine.

4. In a stapling machine having a reel for wire or staple stock removably mounted therein for rotary movement about its own axis and for bodily translatory movement in opposite directions and an operable part: a device for preventing the operation of said part; and means associated with said reel which when the reel is mounted in the machine is efiective to resist such translatory movement of the reel in one direction and also to maintain said device inoperative.

5. In a stapling machine having a reel for wire staple stock removably mounted therein for rotary movement about its own axis and for bodily translatory movement in opposite directions and an operable part: a movable locking device for said part biased to operative position; and a resilient element associated with said reel which when the reel is mounted in the machine is coactable with a part of the machine yieldingly to resist translatory movement of the reel in one direction and also is effective to maintain said locking device in inoperative position.

6. A stapling machine comprising a support, a device supporting a reel of wire staple stock for rotary movement about its own axis, said device being removably mounted on said support for movement with respect to the latter in opposite directions, an operable part, and a movable device for preventing the operation of said part,

said movable device being biased to operative position, and said reel-supporting device having means which when such reel-supporting device is mounted on said support is effective to maintain said preventing device in inoperative position.

'7. A stapling machine comprising a support, a device supporting a reel of wire staple stock for rotary movement about its own axis, said device being removably mounted on said support for movement with respect to the latter in opposite directions, an operable part, and a movable device for preventing the operation of said part, said movable device being biased to operative position, and said reel-supporting device having means which when such reel-supporting device is mounted on said support is coactable with a part of the machine yieldingly to resist movement of the reel-supporting device in one direction relative to said support and also is effective to maintain said movable device in inoperative position.

8. In a stapling machine having a support and a carrier for staple stock removably mounted in operative position on said support for bodily translatory movement in opposite directions with respect to the support; the combination of a device adjustable to conditions wherein the machine is operable and inoperable respectively, and means associated with said carrier for effecting adjustment of said device to that condition wherein the machine is operable as an incident to so mounting the carrier on said support.

9. In a stapling machine having a support and a carrier for staple stock removably mounted in operative position on said support for bodily translatory movement in opposite directions with respect to the support; the combination of a device adjustable to conditions wherein the machine is operable and inoperable respectively, and means controllable by said carrier for effecting adjustment of said device to that condition wherein the machine is inoperable as an incident to the removal of the carrier from said support.

10. In a stapling machine having a support and a carrier for staple'stock removably mounted on said support for bodily swinging movement with respect to the support; the combination of a device adjustable toconditions wherein the machine is operabl and inoperable respectively, said device being biased to that condition wherein the machine is inoperable, and means associated with said carrier and effective to maintain said device adjusted to that condition wherein the machine is operable when the carrier is so mounted on said support.

11. In a stapling machine having a support and a carrier for staple stock removably mounted in operative position on said support for bodily translatory movement in opposite directions with respect to the support; the combination of a device which is bodily movable to positions wherein the machine is respectively operable and inoperable and which is biased to that position wherein the machine is inoperable, and means associated with said carrier for effecting movement of said device to that position wherein the machine is operable as an incident to so mounting the carrier on the support.

12. In a stapling machine having a support and a carrier for staple stock removably mounted in operative position on said support for bodily translatory movement in opposite directions with respect to the support; the combination of a device adjustable to conditions wherein the machine is operable and inoperable respectively, means associated with said carrier for effecting adjustment of said device to that condition wherein the machine is operable as an incident to so mounting the carrier on the support, and

means controllable by said carrier for effecting adjustment of said device to that condition wherein the machine is inoperable as an incimeans for effecting the inoperative conditioning of said device as an incident to so mounting said carrier on the support.

14. In a stapling machine comprising a support and having a carrier for staple stock removably mounted in operative position on said support for bodily translatory movement in opposite directions with respect to the support;

5 the combination of a movably mounted device for preventing operation of the machine, said device being biased to operative position, and means associated with said carrier and operable thereby to effect movement of said device to inoperative position upon so mounting said carrier on the support.

15. In a stapling machine comprising a support and having a carrier for staple stock removably mounted in operative position on said support for bodily translatory movement in opposit directions with respect to the support; the combination of a device for preventing operation of the machine, and means associated with said carrier and coaotable with said device to render the latter ineffective as an incident to so mounting said carrier on said support.

16. In a stapling machine comprising a support and having a carrier for srtaple stock removably mounted in operative position on said support for bodily translatory movement in opposit directions with respect to the support; the combination of a device movable to and from a position in which the same is adapted to prevent operation of the machine, and a member carried by said carrier and through which the latter, when so mounted on said support, acts to maintain said device out of said position.

17. In a stapling machine having a support, a carrier for staple stock removably mounted on said support for bodily swinging movement in opposite'directions with respect to the support, and an operable part; the combination of a movable lock for said operable part, said lock being biased to operative position, and means associated with said carrier and through which the latter, when so mounted on said support, maintains said lock out of said position.

FREDERICK C. HOUWEN. 

